“Scared out of my mind,” I admit, pushing past the fear to stand. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me close for a moment before we step back into the chaos.
The living room is a disaster, a storm of broken memories and violated spaces—glass glittering like diamonds scattered across the floor and drawers upended, their contents strewn throughout my home.
“Who would do this?” Anger laces my words with venom.
My gaze darts around, searching for answers in the wreckage.
“Could be anyone. Past grudges or new threats.” Highway’s eyes are hard, scanning the destruction with tactical precision. He moves through the room, boots crunching on debris, touching nothing but seeing everything.
“Someone’s sending a message,” I say, my mind racing as I try to piece together the puzzle. The air feels heavy with menace, the silence louder than any scream.
Highway’s jaw clenches. “Maybe, but they just signed up for a war.”
We stand amidst the remnants of a life interrupted, our hearts beating to the rhythm of impending retribution.
“How could you be so stupid to put yourself in danger? What were you thinking?”
Surprised at his outburst, I turn to face him. “Reaper said we could leave the compound, and I wanted a few more clothes.Honestly, I
didn’t think it would be a problem.”
Highway throws his arm out in an arc and shakes his head. “That’s the problem, Lyric, you don’t think. If whoever did this was still here, you could have been hurt. And…” He takes a deep breath and lowers his voice. “I’m not sure I could deal with that.”
Moving closer to him, I put an arm around his waist. “You like me,” I tease. His mouth goes into a hard line. “I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again.”
He quirks an eyebrow up at me and kisses me lightly. “Something tells me you will.”
With a shrug, I step away from him. “I’ll try my best.”
Bending down, I turn over a picture frame, and my fingers stumble upon a jagged edge, an anomaly in the sea of debris. A photograph. I snatch it up, a Polaroid from a time when innocence wasn’t a memory. My breath catches. It’s Lucy, her smile frozen in a happier yesterday, but where there should be two, there’s only one. The other half is torn away.
“Highway, look at this.”
He bends down and holds out a hand. “What is it?”
“An old picture of Lucy and Dom.” The name tastes like bile. “But someone ripped him out.”
“Dom?” Highway’s brow furrows, a storm brewing in his eyes. “The Loco’s Dom?”
“Exactly.” My heart hammers.
A message? A threat?
“Shit.” He curses under his breath. “Pack a bag, Lyric. We’re heading to the clubhouse.”
No arguments there. I walk back into my bedroom and shove clothes into my discarded suitcase with trembling hands.
Outside, the night’s cool embrace does nothing to calm my nerves. Highway mounts his Harley. I place my suitcase on the truck’s seat, taking one last look at the home, now scarred byviolence.
“Let’s go. I’ll follow you.”
Not needing to be told twice, I start the engine and speed through the streets, with the clubhouse as our destination.
It promises safety. Maybe answers.
When I pull into the compound, I park the truck in its usual spot. Highway pulls alongside me, and I wind down the window.
“Find your dad and Lucy. I’ll get Reaper.”
